Fausto Gresini, former Grand Prix racer and team principal of Aprilia Racing Team Gresini has breathed his last on Tuesday after a prolonged fight against COVID-19.
After contracting the virus back in December, Fausto Gresini was hospitalized for two months as he started suffering from multiple health complications.
Fausto Gresini’s health was starting to improve, only before it got worse
On 30th December, The Italian was admitted to the intensive care unit of the Maggiore Carlo Alberto Pizzardi hospital in Bologna, where he was battling serious respiratory problems.
The 60-year-old’s health conditions were starting to improve after he was primarily placed in a pharmaceutical coma. A ventilator was issued to maintain Gresini’s blood oxygen levels and was regaining consciousness and was able to interact with his family over video calls.
However, the Italian’s health conditions started worsening once again from 18th February onwards as a severe lung infection followed up, and had to put into a medically induced coma once again in the previous week, before breathing his last on 23rd February in the hospital.
The saddening news was made official by the Gresini team in the early hours of Tuesday.
“The news we would have never wanted to give, and that unfortunately we are forced to share with all of you. After nearly two months battling against Covid, Fausto Gresini has sadly passed away, few days after turning 60,” an official statement from the team read.
“All of Gresini Racing are close to Fausto’s family in support: his wife Nadia and the four children Lorenzo, Luca, Alice and Agnese… as well as everyone who had the chance to get to know him and love him throughout the years.” (H/T Crash.net)
A two time 125cc world champion in his 12 year GP career, Gresini delved into management in 1997 and later became the team boss of the Aprilia Racing Team Gresini MotoGP team.
Under his management, the team won the 2001 250cc world championship with Daijiro Kato, and the 2010 Moto2 world championship with Toni Elías winning. His contract with Aprilia is set to terminate at the end of this season.
